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Vol. 9 No. 36 - May 27, 2009

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LBK seeks help
with pipeline

By Tom Vaught | sun staff writer

BRADENTON BEACH – The town manager of Longboat Key took the trip
across the bridge to ask this city’s commissioners for help in
rerouting a natural gas pipeline in the waters north of Anna Maria
Island.

Bruce St. Denis asked city commissioners to write a letter to
the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Congressman Vern Buchannan supporting
Longboat’s contention that the Port Dolphin gas pipeline would
cut into the area where the best sand for renourishment is located.

"They agreed to move it once, but it is still in the barrow
area where we get our best sand," he said. "We want it
to go further north."

St. Denis said that the loss of that barrow area could have dire
consequences.

"If there isn’t enough sand out there, we would be looking
at the area where you get your sand," he said.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry asked what Longboat’s deadline is
and St. Denis said within the next two to three weeks. Perry asked
him to send her copies of Longboat’s documentation and she would
ask the city clerk to put the issue on the agenda for the next
commission meeting on Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m.

The Port Dolphin project caused a furor among Manatee County
officials when it was originally proposed close enough to the barrow
area that the county uses to make it too dangerous to use. The
company finally relented, moving the pipeline, but has balked at
moving it for Longboat Key.

German TV to feature
Anna Maria Island

A German television production crew filmed Kim Ibasfalean
of Captain Kim’s Boat Rides and Charters last week in the
Intracoastal Waterway behind the Mar Vista restaurant.
SUN PHOTO/CINDY LANE

By Cindy Lane | sun staff writer

German television audiences will see 17 minutes of scenes from Anna
Maria Island, Longboat Key and Bradenton on two travel programs in
September.

Dodging unusual rains last week, a production crew filmed scenes
for segments on the "100% Vacation" and "Travel Advice" programs
that will feature the beaches, Snooty the manatee at the South Florida
Museum in Bradenton, Prime Outlets in Ellenton and several hotels chosen
by the crew, said Jessica Grace, of the Bradenton Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau.

While German radio
listeners heard about the Island during the Jazz on the Islands campaign
two years ago, and stories have appeared in the German press, the two
travel programs are Manatee County’s first introduction to German television
audiences, Grace said.

It was the first time that Kerstin Woldt, a producer with the ARD
Radio and Television Network, had been to Anna Maria Island, she said,
and her favorite places were Bean Point and the two piers in Anna Maria.

The Island compares favorably to the Caribbean, she said, adding
that accommodations here are more "luxurious," and people are
equally friendly and casual.

Germans typically have a month of vacation time each year, and split
it in half, she said. A two-week stay in Florida would likely include
a week in Orlando’s theme parks and week at the beach, either east
coast or west coast.

Relief
over
burglary
arrests

Patrick Banker John
O'Keefe

ByTom Vaught | sun staff writer

ANNA MARIA – The news that there were arrests following a two-month string of overnight
burglaries on and near the Island travelled quickly on Tuesday, May
19. Victims expressed gratitude for the alert actions that resulted
in the arrests while the suspects, John J. O’Keefe and Patrick Banker,
were caught allegedly burglarizing The Waterfront Restaurant at 111
South Bay Blvd. for the second time.

"It was great, very exciting," said Waterfront owner Jason
Suzor. "I got the call around 2 a.m. that they had just caught
both of them. It good to have closure on the whole thing."

Suzor said it was good to know that the suspects were reportedly
implicated in the other burglaries.

The owner of the Beach Bistro, which was burglarized April 13,
praised the police.

"All of the departments worked together and speaking as a member
of the Holmes Beach Police Pension Board, I am proud of them all," Sean
Murphy said. "It’s a little unsettling when you get robberies,
but every body should feel better now."

However, while the arrests may have solved one form of robbery,
another is still unsolved. Police are still looking for a group of
people who distract store clerks while one of them takes money and
credit cards from the clerks’ purses, which are usually stored near
the cash register. The suspects are African-American and one of them
has been described as an older woman with a face-piercing piece of
jewelry or a gold tooth. Ruth Mercer, who works at Two Scoops, which
was hit by the group, said the news of the burglary arrests was great,
but she still has hope that the other robbers are caught.

Pam Flow, who works at Two Sides of Nature, was a victim of the
daytime robbers.

"The woman who was trying on clothes to distract me from the
cash register was very nice and dressed nice," Flow said. "She
acted like she wanted to buy and tried on a lot of clothes, but she
said nothing fit and she would have to come back another time."

The other woman got away with money, a credit card and a driver’s
license from Flow’s purse.

Fire board approves
$5 increase

By Pat Copeland | sun staff writer

HOLMES BEACH – West Manatee fire commissioners last week approved
an increase in the fire assessment of $5 for both residential and commercial
properties, with no increase in the square footage rate or for vacant
lots.

Fire Chief Andy Price told commissioners that he is proposing no
increase in the operating budget, but a $5 increase for a capital budget
for facilities improvements. Price said the district is applying for
federal stimulus funds for improvements, but there is no guarantee
it would receive the funds.

"We have to address future funding for our facilities," he
explained. "We plan to develop a capital budget, and for that
we need to generate revenue. We propose an increase in the base rate
of $5 for future renovations."

Resident David Phillips said since the district is losing parcels
through annexation by the city of Bradenton and has less territory
to protect, there should be a decrease in the assessment.

"We still have to have the same number of firefighters and our
costs are the same," Price replied.

Phillips asked why the facilities need renovating, and Price said
they are old, too small to house the present crews and the district
has to comply with certain federal and state standards.

"We’re trying to remodel to meet the needs of our people," Price
explained. "Our stations were built 20 to 40 years ago and the
district was all volunteer. If we don’t start planning now and have
the funding to do the work in the future, it will just get worse."

"Our country is in bad shape," resident Al Robinson declared. "No
one has the guts to cut and say we can do with less. We should be taking
about cuts, not increases. We’re out of control."

Commissioners respond

"I had hoped we didn’t have to raise rates, but I recognize the
importance of investing the future of the district and the community
we serve," Commissioner Randy Cooper said. "I’ve been to
all three stations and seen the condition they are in. We need to start
saving for renovations."

Cooper asked Price how much commissioners could have increased the
assessment. Price said they could have used the Florida Personal Income
Growth Factor, which is 7.1 percent this year, and it would have increased
tax bills by more than $30 for residential and $50 for commercial.

Commissioner John Rigney pointed out that this is the only fire commission
in the county that is volunteer and that commissioners also pay taxes.

"Every time we look at a budget, we look at the well being of
the public and the firefighters," Rigney said. "We want to
spend the money wisely, and make our buildings work better."

"I’m worried about cutting our operating budget. Everything we
buy – every tool, every medical supply – is going up in cost. I’m afraid
if we cut too much we’ll be further behind next year."

Rigney proposed an additional $2 assessment for the operating budget.

Commissioner Larry Tyler disagreed and noted, "We can get along
with that (the $5 increase). I don’t think we’re hurting any services.
I’m not for an increase either, but we have to look toward the future."

Cooper suggested putting $1 of the $5 increase in the operating budget
and the remaining $4 in a capital budget.

"Randy’s proposal would take some of the pressure off," Price
acknowledged.

Commissioners approved Cooper’s proposal.

Mar Vista fireworks
request scrutinized

By Pat Copeland | sun staff writer

ANNA MARIA – The Island’s Fireworks Task Force plans to send out its
July 4 message that fireworks are illegal and will be confiscated to
residents and visitors in a variety of ways.

Message boards will be parked along roadsides, flyers will be distributed
to rental agents and public service announcements will be aired on
government television stations. In addition, the information is posted
on Island city and county Web sites.

Sgt. Dave Turner, of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, said the
Sandbar plans to hire four off-duty officers to check for alcohol
and fireworks’ violations. He said illegal fireworks would be confiscated
and turned over to the bomb squad.

Mayor Fran Barford asked him to coordinate the collection with the
Holmes Beach Police Department, which last year placed receptacles
for the confiscated fireworks in the field by city hall.

"People don’t know the difference between legal and illegal fireworks," pointed
out Bob Tollise, county hazmat coordinator. "I think they need
to see it."

He suggested making a poster featuring photos of each kind and hanging
it in Island businesses, particularly at the restaurants where the
displays are planned. Barford said she would contact Ed Chiles, owner
of the Sandbar, BeachHouse and Mar Vista, about it

Fireworks at Mar Vista

Barford asked Longboat Key Fire Marshal Lou Gagliardi about a request
from the Chiles Group to have a fireworks display at Mar Vista Dockside
Restaurant and Pub on Longboat Key on July 4.

"We’re reviewing it," Gagliardi explained. "They want
to have a barge on the water and our concern is the fallout area for
the boats and the docks."

He said Mar Vista is on a dead end street and it could cause serious
traffic issues. He also pointed out that Mar Vista is on the Intracoastal
Waterway and the Coast Guard has jurisdiction.

Barford said fireworks displays are planned for July 3 at the BeachHouse
in Bradenton Beach and July 4 at the Sandbar in Anna Maria. She said
if there is a display at Mar Vista, it would draw some of the crowd
that comes to Anna Maria.

Suspects to be
arraigned separately

By Tom Vaught | sun staff writer

One of the two suspects in a string of burglaries has hired an attorney,
pled not guilty and requested a jury trial according to court records.

Patrick Banker, 18, of Sarasota, was to be arraigned before judge
Gilbert Smith, Jr., but his attorney, Varinia Van Ness, of Sarasota,
filed to waive the arraignment when she asked for the jury trial.
No date has yet been set.

The other suspect, John J. O’Keefe, 18, also of Sarasota, apparently
does not have a private attorney of record, and he will be arraigned
before judge Diana Moreland.

Authorities say Banker was the one who cooperated with them after
the two were caught early Tuesday morning while allegedly trying
to burglarize The Waterfront Restaurant for the second time in two
weeks. O’Keefe continues to deny having anything to do with the burglaries.

So far, Banker has been charged with 16 offenses ranging from petit
theft to burglary. O’Keefe has been charged with nine offenses.

Here’s a chronological look at the crime spree to which Banker
allegedly confessed, according to probable cause affidavits on file
with the district court:

In addition, O’Keefe was charged with burglarizing a business at
6412 Manatee Ave. W., in Bradenton on May 19. According to the affidavit,
he entered the business and then left when he heard a noise. The
security recording showed the burglar was wearing the same clothing
as O’Keefe when he was caught following the Waterfront burglary later
that night.

Bond was set at $45,000 for each suspect.

Center finances
continue to improve

By Pat Copeland | sun staff writer

ANNA MARIA – For the second month in a row,
the Community Center got a brighter budget picture – revenues were
up while expenses were down.

"As projected, thanks to a very successful Affair to Remember,
we finally got over the top and made almost $79,000," Treasurer
Bill Ford reported. "Now we’re over expenses $8,500 for the year,
which is quite an accomplishment considering where we were a few months
ago."

Ford said he compared April 2008 to April 2009 and the revenues
are almost identical, However, expenses are down from $889,000 to
$695,000.

"At this time in April 2008, we were $139,000 negative versus
$8,500 positive for this year," he said.

"The Center is projecting a conservative 1.6 percent increase
in revenue in 2009-10," Executive Director Pierrette Kelly added. "Manatee
County government grants will be reduced by 3 or 10 percent, depending
on availability of tax revenues, and foundation grants remain difficult
to obtain due to the current economic conditions."

She said the Center is focusing on providing quality programs and
services, increasing memberships and developing new programs to meet
the needs of the community.

Ford said he is working on a three-year budget plan that will be
finalized in June. He said the plan includes a 5 percent profit for
reserves in the third year.

The board welcomed a new member, Greg Ross, who grew up on the
Island and at the Community Center and attended Florida State. He
then worked at American Express, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.

"I quit Johnson and Johnson seven years ago, so my wife, Lee,
and I could move back to the Island to raise our children. We have
nine-year-old twin boys, Jake and Andrew."

The family is active in the Center and owns Ross Built, a construction
company.

Board members also met Pat Gentry, the Center’s VISTA volunteer,
who is focusing on programs and activities for seniors.

"We’re all getting older and have needs," Gentry explained. "I
want to know my community can support that."

In addition, Gentry said she is recruiting seniors to volunteer
at the Center and pointed out, "They all have a lifetime of experience
and knowledge, and I’d like to team them up with our teens and children
and use this.

ANNA MARIA – AMI Historical Society members welcomed about 75 residents
and elected officials to the native garden behind Belle Haven Cottage
to meet their new director and congratulate their scholarship winners.

Pate is the daughter of David and Deborah Pate, of Holmes Beach.
She plans to study liberal arts at Furman University in South Carolina.

Nathan Hickerson is the son of Joyce Karp and Gary Hickerson, of
Holmes Beach. He plans to attend MCC and then New College.

Severin Walstad is the son of Dana and Jamie Walstad, of Anna Maria.
He plans to attend the University of Florida and major in political
science.

The group presented a framed photograph of people with parasols walking
down Pine Avenue lined with palm trees to Micheal Coleman and Ed Chiles
of the Pine Avenue Restoration Project. Coleman has said that photograph
was the inspiration for restoring Pine Avenue as a walking district.

"Let’s start a conversation among neighbors about what Pine Avenue
and Anna Maria should be," Coleman said inviting residents to
come talk to him. "We’re building this for our village community,
not the tourists."

"We are pleased that you have recognized us," Chiles added. "We
are proud of what we’ve done on Pine Avenue."